May: EU migration could rise in wake of Brexit vote

Theresa May has admitted that EU migration could rise in the wake of the Brexit vote as people seek to enter the UK before it leaves the union.

Speaking on ITV's Peston show Ms May said: "If we're looking ahead over the coming months and years once we get the issue of the EU negotiation sorted, the right deal for Britain, we may very well see in the run-up to that, people wanting to come here to the UK before that exit happens, so there are factors you can't always predict what the timing and numbers of those will be."

She also appeared to back away from the Conservative party's target to get net migration down to the tens of thousands, suggesting that while there is more work to do the renegotiation will set out firm numbers.

Ms May said: "There's still a job to be done from people outside the EU.

"There's also, of course, the future negotiation in relation to free movement for people coming from inside the EU. I'm very clear the Brexit vote gave us a very clear message from people that we couldn't allow free movement to continue as it had hitherto.

"We need to bring control into movement of people coming into the UK from the EU. So we've got to move ahead looking across immigration dealing with both those sides of types of immigration.

"But still I believe we should have that goal of bringing immigration down to sustainable levels."

She added that the wants to "guarantee the position" for EU citizens currently living in the UK and British citizens living in EU countries.

"What's important is there will be a negotiation here as to how we deal with that issue of people who are already here and who have established life here and Brits who have established a life in other countries within the European Union.

"The position at the moment is as it has been, there's no change at the moment, but of course we have to factor that into negotiations."

It came as Andrea Leadsom vowed to trigger Article 50 as soon as she becomes Prime Minister if she wins the Conservative leadership election.

In a busy morning of TV shows and radio interviews Ms Leadsom stumbled over whether she would publish her tax returns, eventually agreeing to do so.

Her leadership rivals Michael Gove and Theresa May both agreed to do the same.

Ms Leadsom, a Vote Leave campaigner, laid claim to the mantle of Baroness Thatcher as she launched her campaign to become the second woman to serve as Britain’s Prime Minister.

The Brexit supporter sets out her plan for a fast-track process of pulling out of the European Union, suggesting that the country could leave as soon as next year.

It came as Ms May claimed to own 100 cookbooks and triggered a Twitter storm after she criticised Delia Smith for being too precise in her cookery books.

She also admitted there is more to do on immigration and appeared to abandon the Government's target to cut net migration to the tens of thousands, instead says there would be a negotiation over how to move forward.

Elsewhere Michael Gove accused Boris Johnson of lacking the "grit" to be leader of the party and the country and said it is "telling" that he chose not to continue with his leadership bid last week.

Liam Fox: Remain supporter could be the next Prime Minister

Liam Fox was asked this morning if the next Prime Minister must be someone who backed a Brexit vote, he said it is possible that someone who backed Remain could replace David Cameron but added that the EU would be more likely to take the UK seriously if there was a Brexiteer in charge.

He refused to say who he would back if he drops out of the race next week, telling Andrew Neil: "If I know I'm not going to tell you."

Chris Bryant pleads with Jeremy Corbyn: 'Please Jeremy, go now'

Chris Bryant has warned that lots of people who want to vote for Labour don't feel they can because of the "unsustainable" position of the party in Parliament.

He said: "I don't want anybody to challenge him yet I want Jeremy to read the writing on the wall ... 44 per cent of Labour members want him to go now and another 10 per cent want him to go before the General Election.

"This has never happened before - 80 per cent of MPs saying they don't have confidence in his leadership."

He adds that it proves Mr Corbyn won't be able to get back on the ballot paper and therefore should not continue as leader because the rules must be followed.

Chris Bryant

Mr Bryant, who resigned his post as shadow leader of the House of Commons, said he does not believe that Mr Corbyn could win a leadership contest now because of the number of people who have got in touch with him to say this can't go on - they are not convinced by him as a leader.

He said it would be "phenomenally bruising" to have a leadership contest and that Mr Corbyn must go now.

He added: "Far more effective would be for Jeremy Corbyn to read the writing on the wall, it must be 8m high now."

He adds that seven of Mr Corbyn's new shadow cabinet want to see him and he is "so frightened" that he won't meet with them, it is time to go.

"Jeremy is a very decent man, I can't imagine any other leader of the Labour party who would not have taken on that vote of no confidence.

"Once you're in the bunker and you've got a bunker mentality the game is up, I am sure that in Jeremy Corbyn's heart he knows that his broken leadership - because that's what it is now - will break the Labour party."

In an astonishing plea to the Labour leader Mr Bryant said: "I would just say if Jeremy is listening please, please, please Jeremy you're the only person who can break this log jam.

"You could go out with dignity and the Labour movement and the millions of people who would love to vote for the Labour party ... if you were to go now all those people would say you have done an immensely honorouble thing, the Labour party isn't gong to go back to where it was ten years ago."

He added that Mr Corbyn's ally Barry Gardiner did not sound supportive of his leader this morning and that Mr Corbyn staying in place would "break the back of the Labour party on the vanity of those surrounding Jeremy".

MP loyal to Jeremy Corbyn admits situation is 'difficult'

John McDonnell: 'Don't underestimate Jeremy, he has a steel about him'

The shadow Chancellor has backed a plan suggested by Len McCluskey for the unions to mediate between the leader and his MPs to try and heal the deep rift in the Labour party.

Mr McDonnell says there has been a "mass hysteria" in all political parties including his own, adding that MPs should "recognise their responsibilities" and come together to stop the coup against Jeremy Corbyn.

Asked about claims the Mr McDonnell and Labour aides are blocking Mr Corbyn from meeting with Tom Watson amid fears he may be convinced to resign he said: "This is becoming farcical, only last week some elements of the coup plotters were briefing that i was launching a coup against Jeremy, this week the story is I'm forcing him to stay on ... both can't be right, neither are right.

"I think we should calm down and think about the future of our party and more importantly the future of our country.

"Jeremy is meeting any MP that wants to come and see him, that includes Tom ... he will continue to do that."

John McDonnellCredit:
Getty

He adds that Mr Corbyn is "a different type of leader, he's not the sort of Tony Blair type leader and I am glad because he won't mistake mistakes like Iraq... he wants to mediate with people... don't underestimate he is a leader, he has a steel about him."

Mr McDonnell accuses the coup plotters of "divide and rule" and denies that he is attempting to replace the leader himself because of his own ambitions.

"If there is a leadership election he will stand and I will chair his campaign committee," he adds.

Asked about Tony Blair and his role in the Iraq war Mr McDonnell denies that he and Jeremy Corbyn will attempt to paint the former leader as a war criminal, adding it is about the process and not individuals.

Tony Blair: A second EU referendum is possible

Tony Blair has suggested that there could be a second EU referendum because "the will of the people is entitled to change".

He told Sky News: "The will of the people is entitled to change. MPs will get feedback from constituencies.

"I don't think you can over-ride the settled will of the people. But supposing some weeks or months down the line as it becomes clear what we are moving to if it's clear these terms are bad for us if people start to worry about their jobs we should keep our options open."

Stephen Crabb: 'Labour has given up on the working classes'

Stephen Crabb, who was brought up by a single mother on a council estate, hesitates when asked if he would be happy with Boris Johnson as leader of the party.

"We shouldn't be worrying about what people's backgrounds are as long as they can do the job. I spent my first eight years in politics not saying a word about my background at all," he says, adding:"But there is something about being to emphasise and understand those communities ... I think that's something distinctive that I bring."

Stephen Crabb: "If we allow leadership contest to be seen through the prism of whether you were Leave/Remain, we risk splitting the party"

Asked for his views on same sex marriage, something he opposed, he says: "I am very very happy with the outcome of the vote on same sex marriage, it was purely on the point of protection of religious freedom [that I didn't vote for it].

"It's for all of us now to contribute to a culture and a climate of tolerance and respect."

He says that the Labour party gave up trying to represent the working classes a long time ago and that the Conservatives must now move to fill this vacuum.

Emily Thornberry: 'Listen to the Queen and calm down'

Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, has backed Mr Corbyn's leadership of the party and called for politicians to follow the Queen's advice and calm down.

Speaking to ITV's Robert Peston she said: "At a time of crisis like this it is incumbent on the political class to think of the country first.

"Jeremy is the leader, he was elected with a very strong mandate from the membership ... I think that people want him to stay, I spoke to a lot of my members yesterday and they support him but they are very concerned about what happens next."

The QueenCredit:
Steven Cargill

She said there is a need for a Labour figure to unite the party like John Prescott did, adding: "I didn't support Jeremy Corbyn for leader but he is the leader, the democratically elected leader ... we need a kind of John Prescott figure, not as a leader but as an honest broker.

"Prescott got people together and sorted something out, I think there are a number of people [who could do that] and I think we need to get people together."

She said it is "nonsense" that Mr Corbyn has refused to meet with Tom Watson, the deputy party leader, adding: "He listens to his party members, his constituents... he has his own ideas, he is a strong willed man but I do think it's really important that people take a step back and take a breath and decide what to do.

"I think we should listen to the Queen, she said this yesterday ... there is a time for politicians to cool down and unite ... she has a lot of experience... she is right."

Theresa May: 'I don't like Delia Smith, her recipes are too strict'

Asked about why she prefers Yotam Ottolenghi recipes to Delia Smith she says it is because she likes to chuck different ingredients about in the kitchen. She has over 100 cookbooks, she adds.

"Delia is very precise and I like throw a bit of this in here and that in there", she says. Ottelengi is a bit more relaxed with his recipes.

Asked if she is too much of a control freak Ms May adds: "I think it's important that you're on top of things ... but I think if it was somehow that I was a control freak and that people didn't get on and like my style we wouldn't have a majority of ministers who have worked with me backing me [for leadership]."

The Home Secretary says she will not trigger an early election because of the instability generated by the decision to leave the EU and because the Conservatives were elected on a manifesto that she intends to deliver.

"It's important to have the right leadership in order to have stability, that's why I'm standing", she says.

Delia SmithCredit:
REX

Ms May says it was not a mistake to hold a referendum vote because it had become clear that the British people wanted to have a say on the issue. "They've told politicians they want to come out, we will come out," she adds.

Ms May, notoriously private, said she accepts that people will want to know more about her but she says it is important to be judged on record.

"When you're looking at politicians what you should be doing is looking at what we do ... I recognise that there are things that people are going to want to know about me, that people will want to look at my private life."

Asked if she will publish her tax returns she said: "I don't think it's the case that all members of parliament should have their tax returns published ... I will do that because mine is very simple and straightforward."

Theresa May: 'I would not trigger Article 50 straight away'

Speaking to ITV's Peston programme Theresa May says it is important that there is a leadership contest and not a coronation.

Asked if she would quite like to be crowned the next Prime Minister she added: "Obviously I hope I am one of the candidates that would go forward to the membership ... but I think it is important that the arguments are heard."

Michael Gove: It is 'telling' that Boris Johnson chose not to stand as leader

Appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr show Michael Gove is being grilled on why he chose to stand as leader of the party despite first accepting the role of Boris Johnson's campaign manager.

Mr Marr accuses Mr Gove of "leaving Boris Johnson in the dark" and of publicly humiliating him by making his decision to stand without letting his friend know.

Explaining his reasons Mr Gove said: "I sought to ring Boris that morning, I spoke to one of his colleagues instead and explained my decision.

Michael Gove and Boris JohnsonCredit:
Getty

"He could not do that job and right until the 11th hour I was talking to parliamentary colleagues and friends seeking to persuade them that Boris could be leader.

"Boris had the opportunity to build a team ... and I felt that he did not step up to that challenge and there was a deadline."

He adds that: "It would have been a genuine betrayal of principle and of this country to allow Boris's campaign to go ahead with my support."

Laying into Mr Johnson, the former Mayor of London, Mr Gove says that it was "telling" that his friend did not continue with his own leadership campaign despite his decision to stand, adding that it shows Mr Johnson lacks "grit".

He adds that Mr Johnson does not have the ability to be the Prime Minister, forcing him to stand.

Probed about whether he is the type of person who betrays his friend after having campaigned against his close friend the Prime Minister he said: "I didn't make the decision to call the referendum, that was David Cameron's decision... but if you put friendship and personal relations before what is right you're not serving your country."

Andrew Marr has accused him of "brutal political knife work", Mr Gove replies that he doesn't mind if people say nasty things about him, as long as people think he sticks to his principles.

The union boss isn't pulling any punches. He described the coup against Jeremy Corbyn as "a political lynching of a decent man", adding that his union will not withdraw its support.

"I am amazed at some of the MPs who have fallen into the trap, I think they have been seduced by sinister forces" he said, adding that "there are PR people with strong links to Tony Blair ... who have been critically involved in this orchestrated coup".

Len McCluskey's comments on #Marr. This is a ridiculous conspiracy theory and completely untrue. He should withdraw.

Andrea Leadsom: 'I'm not just being funded by Ukip'

Asked about comments she made in 2013 claiming that Brexit would be a bad thing for the UK Andrea Leadsom said she has changed her mind since then because of the changes that have occurred in the EU.

She said: "It has been a journey. [In the same lecture] I was very clear that the UK's current situation is totally untenable ... the status quo was not an option. I made very clear in the rest of that speech the sort of reforms we would need."

She added that after the Prime Minister's renegotiation it became clear that the deal was not enough.

Andrea LeadsomCredit:
REX

"The risks of remaining in the EU massively magnified since around that time actually, as did the determination of EU institutions to go further faster ... they sacrificed a generation of southern European young people. At the same time the UK's economy has been recovering."

Asked about her leadership ambitions and whether she has enough experience to do the job Ms Leadsom says she has "real world experience" which qualifies her for the position, adding she has run charities and had a big job in the City of London.

Explaining why she intends to trigger Article 50 straight away if elected Prime Minister Ms Leadsom said: "We need to get on with it and seize the opportunity", adding that it is important to give businesses and people in the country certainty and stability.

Ms Leadsom batted away claims that she is being funded by Ukip, telling the BBC: "I don't think it's fair to say that I'm just being funded by Ukip... I am delighted by the wide range of support and actually very particularly from young people."

But she refused to say whether she would give Nigel Farage a starring role on any EU negotiating team, adding: "I don't want to get into who would do what."

Ms Leadsom was taken by surprised when asked if she would publish her tax return. she said: "In principle I have no problem with it ... yes, OK yes, alright."

Lord Kinnock: 'Jeremy Corbyn has a duty to resign'

Lord Kinnock, the former leader of the Labour party, has warned there has been a "significant shift" of support away from Jeremy Corbyn.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show he said that many members and MPs have "deep residual doubts about him leading the party to electoral victory so he should consider his position on those grounds."

Lord Kinnock said the party leader must command the support of his MPs and suggested that the current circumstances may mean Mr Corbyn has to force a leadership contest and win enough nominations to be on the ballot because he has broken the rules.

Neil Kinnock and Gordon BrownCredit:
PA

He said: "The leader of the party must have a substantial amount of backing from members of parliament ... that means unless the leader can have that substantial support in parliament then there should be a contest or the leader should consider his position or do his duty to the party and resign."

Asked about the many new members of the party who back Mr Corbyn Lord Kinnock said they must consider whether the current Labour leader could get the party elected or if they have instead joined a protest movement.

If Mr Corbyn continues, he warned, the Conservatives will have decades in power.

He also implored union boss Len McCluskey to withdraw his support for Mr Corbyn, adding: "Think about your members Len... recognise that sentiment in our union on the basis of polling evidence ... know that they have moved away from Jeremy Corbyn and if you heed them take the stance that says to Jeremy Corbyn for the sake of the party ... Jeremy you have to step down."

Andrea Leadsom previously suggested Brexit would be 'disaster'

Andrea Leadsom is facing scrutiny this morning over a speech she made three years ago in which she suggested Britain should stay in the EU.

In a speech at the Hansard Society, she said: "I'm going to nail my colours to the mast here: I don't think the UK should leave the EU.

"I think it would be a disaster for our economy and it would lead to a decade of economic and political uncertainty at a time when the tectonic plates of global success are moving.

"Economic success is the vital underpinning of every happy nation. The wellbeing we all crave goes hand in hand with economic success."

A spokesman for Mrs Leadsom said that her remarks had been "taken completely out of context". "Andrea's position is and has always been that without fundamental reform, the UK could not remain in the EU."

At Westminster, the fraught atmosphere intensified on Saturday, with some of Mr Johnson’s supporters claiming that Mr Gove was simply a “suicide bomber” who was being used by allies of Mr Cameron and George Osborne to “take out” their rival, the former London mayor.

However, allies of both Mr Gove and Mr Cameron strongly denied that Downing Street had any hand in a plot.

The Prime Minister told friends he was deeply shocked by Mr Gove’s behaviour and felt a sense of sympathy for Mr Johnson.

One friend of the Prime Minister said Mr Cameron was “astounded” by Mr Gove’s actions but recalled how the Justice Secretary had betrayed him in the referendum campaign.

Mr Cameron believes Mr Gove failed to honour a promise that he would not campaign vigorously for Brexit.

May: Cutting immigration will have to wait

Voters will have to wait before migration can begin to be cut despite Britain deciding to leave the European Union, Theresa May has warned.

The Home Secretary, who is the front-runner in the Conservative leadership election, promises to reform the EU’s rules on “free movement” of people, which currently allow an unlimited number of migrants to move to the UK to live and work.

However, she stops short of promising to abolish free movement altogether, warning that it will “take time” before the numbers of immigrants come down.

The issue of cutting migration is one of the critical battlegrounds in the negotiation between the UK and the EU’s remaining 27 member states during talks to negotiate Brexit in the months and years ahead.

Mrs May says she would set out her “negotiating principles in more detail in the coming weeks”.

“There is clearly no mandate for a deal that involves accepting the free movement of people as it has worked until now,” she says. “We must regain more control of the numbers of people who come here from Europe, and reduce the numbers that come from outside Europe too. We need immigration to be sustainable and I think net migration in the tens of thousands is sustainable, but it is going to take time.”

Corbyn: I'm ready to reach out to my enemies

The Labour leader said MPs who have set their face against his tenure must "respect" the views of the members who elected him.

Top priority must be opposing the Conservatives and giving voters a real alternative, he said.

In an article for the Sunday Mirror, he wrote: "I am ready to reach out to Labour MPs who didn't accept my election and oppose my leadership - and work with the whole party to provide the alternative the country needs.

"But they also need to respect the democracy of our party and the views of Labour's membership, which has increased by more than 60,000 in the past week alone.

"Our priority must be to mobilise this incredible force to oppose the Tories, and ensure people in Britain have a real political alternative.